In Memory of a Disaster; Surviving the Mt. Pinatubo eruption

Captain Lawton is a graduate of California State University at Northridge (BA in Political Science, minor in Journalism 1971), the University of Southern California (MS in Systems Management 1983) and Webster University (MA in Human Resource Development 1991). His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal (five Oak Leaf Clusters).

Lawton's career spans nearly 30 years in law enforcement as a civilian police officer, USAF Security Policeman and as a USAF Special Agent. Following his retirement in 1993, he spent nearly five years with Orion Scientific Systems Inc. as an instructor in Intelligence Analysis. Since November 2002, he has voluntarily served as the National Capitol Representative of the American Military Retirees Association.

14 years ago my life changed -- radically. I'd hoped it wouldn't, and I definitely didn't encourage what occurred. My Air Force career was moving along, and although I'd been sent to the U.S. for some critical health care, I was looking forward to returning to my career in the Philippines. Although what I'd already experienced was characterized by some as "a significant, emotional event," even that hadn't prepared me for what was about to occur.

I returned to Clark Air Base on June 5th, 1991, on what was ultimately, the last aerovac flight into this historic, and at the time, largest overseas American air base. I was feeling fairly upbeat physically for an 18 year veteran who'd recently undergone major back surgery and experimental proton beam radiation. I'd been retained in the Air Force based upon very supportive letters from my commander and my doctor. At the time, you could have characterized my attitude as "positive," and "upbeat."

I'd been gone from CAB since mid-January, and although I regularly followed the international news, I wasn't prepared for what I encountered at the base. Outwardly, the base appeared normal and the typical, tropical summer heat caused me to profusely sweat the moment I stepped from the aircraft. Yet, what wasn't obvious was the hurried and concerned attention being paid by command officials to the literal survival of everyone both on the base and in the surrounding communities.

Present in the Philippines were officials of the U.S. Geological Survey, and what I learned then, I wish I'd known before leaving the US. A team of scientists was newly based at CAB, and working with the Government of the Philippines, these men and women were monitoring activity on a mountain less than 10 miles from my home -- a mountain that turned out to be a live volcano!

Several months early, natives living on the side of Mt. Pinatubo reported to local Philippine officials, the presence of steam coming from the mountain. Initial investigation by representatives of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, also known as PHILVOCS, confirmed that after 500 years of dormancy, Mt. Pinatubo was now alive and well. Enter the USGS, guests of PHILVOCS and 13th Air Force at CAB.

Clark Air Base (CAB) Area with ash: This is an aerial shot above the flightline facing into the industrial area adjacent to the ramp. The tower is noticeable in the foreground. Ash covers all the ground.

When I returned to CAB, activity on Mt. Pinatubo had significantly increased to the point that a command center monitoring seismic activity had been established on the opposite side of the base, far from Mt. Pinatubo. Additionally, periodic news updates were being provided on the Armed Forces Network by base officials and when they began discussing our potential evacuation from the base, like many, I was shocked and disbelieved we would ever leave.

Our worst nightmare occurred early on June 10th, 1991, when upon turning on the television set around 6 a.m.; the initial evacuation instructions were being given. At the same time, the siren which had been identified as our signal that emergency procedures were being implemented began sounding.

CAB Flightline: Photo of parking area adjacent to flightline where F-4s can be seen. Ash covers everything.

We weren't given much time to leave. We'd already been warned to prepare a suitcase per person; we were told to bring enough food and water for a few days and to leave all possessions that weren't absolutely necessary. We'd been instructed that if forced to evacuate, we were to drive to the flight line and from there, we were to receive further instructions. Pallets of bottled water and packaged food had been prepositioned for distribution to non-essential personnel directed to depart CAB for Subic Naval Air Station.

Throughout the evacuation which resulted in over 15,000 non-essential personnel and family members departing CAB, like most, I was convinced we'd be returning to the base in a day or two. Some people were so sure of this, they left their pets unattended in their homes with a bowl of food and water. Ultimately, the pets left at CAB suffered when their owners never returned. Most died of either starvation or heat exhaustion. Some succeeded in escaping the homes and ultimately roamed the base, scavenging for food.

Evacuation: Cars on flightline awaiting dispersal instructions to NAS Subic. Photo taken June 10th, 1991.

Like everyone else, I was directed to take my family approximately 50 miles south (approximately one-half the distance as the crow flies). The caravan of vehicles stretched for many miles and we snaked through Angeles City to San Fernando and ultimately, to Subic.

Processing at Subic was relatively organized but it was hot, hot and hotter. The US Navy accomplished the Herculean task of accommodating everyone with many being billeted in homes of base personnel and when space ran out, others went to the base gym or anywhere else where space was available.

I recall the late morning hours of June 12th when I looked skyward and observed a huge ash cloud over the base. Later I learned this cloud was created by one of the precursor eruptions to what ultimately resulted in the major eruption of June 15th, an eruption that pushed so much debris in the air that we never saw daylight on that day, later known as "Black Saturday."

I don't have enough space in this article to describe how I felt that day when I woke up to blackness and never saw the sun for 24 hours. I recall writing a letter to my parents in California but wondering how it would get to them. No one knew what to expect and frankly, we didn't know how serious the threat was to our lives.

I have many memories of that significant week of my life which occurred 14 years ago. It was my first experience at being a victim of a cataclysmic disaster. It was my first experience in which I was forced to send my family off (on a naval vessel), in the care of others. It was my first experience in which I could not protect my family in the face of danger, although I was with them when danger struck. It was my first experience at abandoning friends, my Filipino friends in and around the base, although my actions were ordered and not voluntary! Thankfully, all my friends survived although news accounts later reported the deaths of over 300 Filipinos due to the early eruptions and subsequent flooding of the flatlands in Central Luzon.

Today, I stay in touch with many of those who survived that terrible experience in mid-June, 1991. I'll always be grateful to the U.S. Navy for their tremendous efforts at helping me and my family get through a terrible ordeal. We never returned to CAB as a family, and thus, it was our first experience at abandoning a home that represented friendships, a lifestyle and our personal possessions.

The story did have somewhat of a happy ending for us. The Air Force was able to return most of our property in relatively good condition, ash notwithstanding, something that was not universal for all evacuees. We survived and even today, we can recall those traumatic events without saying that we paid too terrible a price.

Yet I hope that we all remember our experiences, because there are many people today throughout the world who are suffering because of a natural disaster, and they will never recover. Our prayers are with them and their families.

Anyone recall Operation FIREY VIGIL that followed this event. One of a host of demanding and dangerous ops the armed forces have conducted since the end of the Cold War.

I was at Clark from 1974-76 when my father was stationed there.

There was a very good PBS Nova prgram about the eruption and destruction of Clark that aired a few years after the eruption.

As you might recall, the U.S. and Philippine governments were in very contentious lease re-negotiations for the base at the time of the eruption. The Philippine government wanted to massively raise the lease payments. Instead, Pinatubo erupted and we simply walked away.

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